OPUS Mag

Aug 9 Views from The U: Miami Hurricanes Season Preview

Heading into the 2016 college football season, the Miami Hurricanes are looking to improve upon an 8-5 season that ended with a loss to Washington State in the Sun Bowl. Being led by new coach, and Cane alum, Mark Richt and their highly touted QB Brad Kaaya; Miami looks to hit the ground running with favorable match ups in the first 3 weeks. Those games coming against Florida A&M, FAU, and Appalachian State.

Starting week 4 though, they face a much tougher road with consecutive games against Georgia Tech, Florida St, North Carolina, VT, and Notre Dame. Since joining the ACC in 2004 the Hurricanes are 47-44 in conference play and have yet to play for a conference title. Mark Richt, who comes into to replace Al Golden at head coach, inherits a talented team but one that does have its fair share of issues. After surrendering 404 yards per game last season Richt has brought in Manny Diaz, a former defensive coordinator with Mississippi St., to head a defense which often struggled in the 3-4 scheme. The 3-4 is a system that some players blamed for not being able to play loose and sometimes being left confused. Mark Richt will take over play calling duties for an offense that looks to be very promising with QB Brad Kaaya, RB Jacob Yearly, and WR Stacey Coley.

My prediction? Overall record: 9-3.

I have them at 9-3 with those 3 losses coming to FSU, Notre Dame, and North Carolina.

Standout player: I'm going to have to go with Brad Kaaya. I believe he continues to improve under the new Richt Regime. He earned 3rd Team ACC honors after posting 3,238 passing yards, 16 TD's, and 5 interceptions and those numbers will only get better in Kaaya's 3rd year at QB.

Wassup, my name is Jason Fengel. I'm 27 living in Sacramento, CA. I'm a huge sports fan, MMA in particular. The Sacramento Kings, GB Packers, Miami Hurricanes, and SF Giants are the teams responsible for my happiness or anger when it comes to sports. And when I'm not watching or talking sports I'm either at work or ears deep in a Jack and Coke at your local bar.

Wassup, my name is Jason Fengel. I'm 27 living in Sacramento, CA. I'm a huge sports fan, MMA in particular. The Sacramento Kings, GB Packers, Miami Hurricanes, and SF Giants are the teams responsible for my happiness or anger when it comes to sports. And when I'm not watching or talking sports I'm either at work or ears deep in a Jack and Coke at your local bar.

Coeur Noir is an autofiction novel written by Al Patron. The title is Haitian Creole for black heart or heart of black, in reference to the traits of the main protagonist, Nikolas Daniel...who may or may not be based on Al Patron himself. A coming of age novel Coeur Noir will evoke emotional reactions ranging from but not limited to crying & laughter, all while detailing a path to greatness for Al Pa...pardon...Nikolas Daniel.